Manager Ian Evatt is looking forward to pitting his wits against opposite number Luke Garrard again when Barrow AFC welcome Boreham Wood to Holker Street tomorrow.

The dynamic between the two teams has changed somewhat from the reverse fixture back in September, which the Bluebirds went into as perceived underdogs.

Back then, the Wood were just four months removed from reaching the National League play-off final, which they lost narrowly to Tranmere Rovers, while Evatt’s then new-look squad were still getting used to each other.

Only a stoppage-time screamer denied them the three points then, but this weekend there will be more of an onus on AFC to get the result, as they are now nine places above their opponents in the table.

However, despite Boreham Wood not yet being safe from relegation, they showed they can still match the best the division has to offer on Tuesday night when they drew 2-2 with Solihull Moors.

Evatt said: “They’re still a very good side. I have a lot of admiration for their manager – I think he’s a very good young coach.

“When I met him for the first time down there, I really enjoyed our conversations, so I think it’s good that they’re coming up here now and we’re in a stronger position than them.

“But they’re still a dangerous team, they got a very good result on Tuesday night and they’ll be looking to build on that, it’s as simple as that.

“We have to go and maintain our performance levels, maintain what we’ve been doing of late and hopefully we can do that and get the three points.

“If we can do that, then we can have a strong end to the season.”

What Evatt won’t have to do this week is bring in a striker from the cold, which has been the case in Barrow’s last two matches.

In both instances, Nathan Reid and Jamie Philpot came into the side just a day after meeting their new teammates, but with AFC’s injury crisis starting to ease, things have been more settled.

“Obviously, it was difficult for both, for Reidy and Jamie, to come into the team, only having trained with them for one day,” Evatt said.

“Jamie was a player that I looked at in the summer – he’s a player that I’ve know about for quite a while and he came highly recommended from a few people whose opinions I hold in high regard.

“I think we’ll see better and more from him as the season ends, and a week’s training won’t do him any harm at all.”

Philpot made his debut in front of a bumper crowd of 1,934 for the Bluebirds’ 2-2 draw against Harrogate Town last Saturday, when the club allowed supporters under 16 into the ground for free.

Such was the success of that promotion, it’s one that has been repeated for the clash with the Wood and Evatt thinks a similar attendance would give everyone a lift from the start.

He said: “I would be amazing. I don’t think we can say just how much it helps the players and helps me when we look around the stadium and see it nearly full and the fans are enjoying themselves and singing, enjoying the atmosphere and enjoying the football on show.

“It really does lift everyone and to have some serious success and for us to push on as a football club, the fans, the players, the management staff and the board all need to push together.”